The objective – cover a deck, approx 15 x 25, currently the deck boards are 2×4’s, with outdoor carpet. Deck is not covered, south exposure, reasonably good condition all around. We range from cold and snow to heat and swelter throughout the seasonal changes. My first instinct says establish a pitch and use PT ply to give a base over the 2x’s, but nothing would be that simple, would it? I have some real concerns regarding what happens after the first winter hits and it has two feet of snow doing a slow melt on it.
“The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb ” lyrics by Roger Waters
Replies
Dont use PT too oily to allow carpet cement to grab, it will fail after first year. I did a deck around a pool 4 yrs. ago laid down 1/4" APM baltic birch underlayment, nailed to mfgs schedule, over 2x6 PT then carpeted, it still looks good except the carpet has faded. Even though the underlay wasn't approved for exterior use manufacturer said they put samples in water for weeks and it didn't delaminate, they do use exterior grade glue between laminations.This is in Maine and we could not pitch surface because of wheelchair use.
I'm having a really hard time imagining a 1/4" Baltic Birch ply in a wet area that isn't starting to rot already. Did you do anything special to seal it all on both sides?.
Excellence is its own reward!
Memory bank get a little slower as time goes by but I did seal BB ply underside with oil base primer, to me that is SOP for any exterior application not involving PT, latex carpet adhesive sealed top and edges & carpet was glued & wrapped on all ends. Didn't want to do job but friend/client who owns flooring shop was doing job for his wifes boss and asked me what I thought told him I didn't like the idea till he checked with mfg of underlay. His wife still has her job and I just finished kitchen for them so we still have good relationship.
From experience, you had better check your insurance.
After a warning from carpet people, I installed an indoor/outdoor carpet on a deck but only after signed a (my) lawyer - drafed disclaimer. HO a lawyer too, signed & witnessed.
Here, our first frost usually hits after a rain = ice.
Sure enough, I got a call after the first ice to remove it. HO's wife slipped & fell, bouncing down the stairs.
It's your choice, but this is one job I'd run from.
Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the Handyman
Vancouver, Canada
We got enohg lawyers in D.C & Toronto running or ruining our countries do we have to let them run the construction industry as well?
Hey, not MY idea of a good time either.
Remember, protect yourself. Safe sex, safe construction.Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada